Council approves up to $100,000 in hotel‑occupancy tax for November Fleet Week drone show and festival
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Summary
Seabrook approved using hotel‑occupancy tax funds, not to exceed $100,000, to host a Veterans Day Fleet Week event featuring a drone show and a daytime festival; staff will seek sponsorships and EDC participation.
Seabrook City Council voted unanimously on Sept. 9 to authorize up to $100,000 from hotel‑occupancy tax (HOT) funds to support a Seabrook Fleet Week event on Nov. 11 that will pair a daytime festival with an evening drone show.
City staff presented two options: a premium third‑party production model that would run roughly $96,000 and include a VIP area, full logistics and contracted vendor management; and a lower‑cost, largely in‑house model projected near $60,000 that would keep more tasks on city staff and limit festival infrastructure. Staff said the drone show vendor requires a significant deposit (staff cited roughly a $10,000 deposit) and that drone programming and logistics typically require a 50 percent or larger advance payment.
Council approved a motion — recorded as not to exceed $100,000 — to fund the event from HOT funds and directed staff to pursue sponsorships and EDC participation to offset costs. Councilors emphasized the event should honor veterans and bring “heads and beds” — overnight visitors— to Seabrook’s hospitality businesses.
City staff said they would return to council with more detailed contracts and sponsorship commitments as plans solidify.